Swing.



F. STEFFENS.

swma.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 18. I915.

l ,1 $1,264.. Patented Nov. '23, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1- MUTWESSES: l fl W .zm MWWW ORNEY F. STEFFENS.

SWING.

. 7 APPLICATION HLED JAN. 18. 1915.

1,1@L26% Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F. STEFFENS.

SWING.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 18. m5.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

3 SHEETS SHEET 3- COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 30., WASHINGTON. I), c.

FRED STEFFENS, OF ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI.

SWING.

Application filed January 18, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED S'rnFrENs, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Joseph, in the county of Buchanan and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Swings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to circle swings and my primary object is to produce swing having a plurality of seats whereby the occupants are simultaneously carried over a circular course and back-and-forth from points parallel to radial planes of such circular course.

Another object is to produce a swing of the character outlined, provided with mechanism whereby an occupant can drive or quickly arrest the movement of the swing.

another object is to produce a swing provided with a series of seats disposed circularly and with means for preventing unequal distribution of weight upon the seats from causing the same to travel circularly in appreciably different horizontal planes, regardless of the length of their back-andforth swinging movements.

Another obiect is to provide a swing com posed of parts which can be easily and quickly assembled in operative relation, and a swing; which embodies the desirable features of simplicity, strength, durability, compactness of construction and attractiveness of appearance.

With these and other objects in View, as

hereinafter appear, the inyenticn consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and organization as hereinafter described and claimed: and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1, is a side elevation of a swing embodying my invention, with one of the seats and its connections omitted and the other parts broken away to more clearly disclose the construction. Fig. 2, is a top plan view of the swing with the flag and canopy omitted. Fig. 3, is an enlarged vertical section partly broken away taken in theradial plane of one of the power transmitting shafts. Fig. 1, is a horizontal section taken on the line IVIV of F ig. 3.

In'the said drawings, 1 is a base in which is erected in any suitable manner, the central tubular support or column 2, and secured upon said column is a centrally per.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

Serial No. 2,852.

forated cap 3, provided with a plurality of outwardly-projecting radial arms 4:, to which are secured radial bars or braces 5 supporting, and connecting at their outer ends a circular track 6, preferably of anQ'le iron, the parts 3 to 6 inclusive, constituting a skeleton circular frame.

Secured rigidly to the tubular support or column 2, by clamping collars 7, is a series of substantially U-shaped braces 8. These braces are arranged in the vertical planes of radial bars 5, and for purposes of ornamentation terminate at their ends in scrolls 9. Near their upper ends the braces are bolted rigidly to the bars 5 near the outer ends of the same, through the interposed blocks 10, if desire At their lower ends the braces 8 are engaged by bolts 11, which extend through the outer ends of radial braces or stays 12, secured at their inner ends at 13, to the base 1. The bolts 11 also extend through a circular ring or band 14:, under lying the outer ends of the braces or stays 12, and disposed concentrically with respect to the column. and said ring or band rests upon supports or feet 15, the bolts 11 securing the braces, stays, ring or band and feet firmly together.

Arranged upon the bars or braces 55, and concentrically with respect to the column 2, is a circular casting 16, secured firmly in position by bolts 17, and said castingis provided at its upper side with a circular chan nel 18, whereby it forms the lower member of a ball race, and with a circular series of radial teeth to constitute a circular rack-bar 19. The parts thus far described constitute what may be conveniently termed the lower or stationarymember of the swing. I

The upper or rotary member of the swing is constructed as follows: is a cap corre sponding to cap 3 but inverted with respect thereto, and provided with outwardly proiecting radial arms 21 like arms 4:, and secured to the inner ends of said arms are bars or braces 22 corres onding to bars 5, and said bars or braces are connected at their outer ends by a ring or band 23, corres ondinn to ring or band 6 but inverted with respect thereto. It will thus be seen that parts 20 and 23 inclusive are of interchangeable construction with respect to parts 3 to 6 inclusive.

24 are bolts for securin in fixed relation to and below the bars a circular ballb aringmember 25, whichinember is of the same diameter as and disposed above member 16 and rest upon balls 26 in channel 18,

the member 25 bein Jrovided with a similar ball race or channel 27.

As it is necessary to make provision I other parts he-relnafter mentioned between the two's'ets of bars and 2 2, it is desirable to space the member 25 some distance below the plane of the bars 22, and to accomplish this purpose, spacingtubes or sleeves 28 are fitted upon the bolts 24 and bear at their upper and lower ends respectively, against bars andflmember 25, as shown clearly. in Fig; 3.

To brace theradial bars 22 near their outer ends for the purpose of maintaining the ring orband 23 in rigid relation to the cap 20, a tubular post 29 is secured at its lower end in cap 20, and secured to said post about midway its height by a collar j 30, is a; series of inclined curved braces 31,

occupying the vertical. planes of bars 22, and secured at their lower or outer endsto the outer ends of said bars, as shown most clearlyin Fig. 3.

H ts a means of guarding against any possibility of dislocation of the upper ballbearing member 25, a rod 32 is arranged centrally within post 29, and secured rigidly at its upper end at 33, to said post. 'l'f-he rold extends downward through the caps 20 and 3 and into column2,-its lower end, engaginga' ball-bearing 34, secured within said, column, so as to turnthere-in with a. minimum friction. The rod 32 not only guards against the dislocation of the member 25 but also against; tilting ac- ,tion of the superstructure, which is that collar provides a convenient support" for a fiagstaff' ll, which, of course, is "for decorative purposes only.

At equal distances apart U-shaped hanger rods 42 connect the rings 35 and 36. These hanger rods are arranged in pairs parallel with-and disposed at opposite sides of and "equal distances from radial planes intersecting the axis of thecolumn. The pairs of rods extend convergingly inward with respect to adjacent pairs and thus rigidly connect thje'rings- 35 and 36" together.

Pivot-ally: pendent from each set.- of

hanger rods are hanger bars 43, pivotally occupants of the seats cooperate.

connected at their lower ends by foot platforms *4, within convenient reach of a seat 4E5,- supported through the engagement of the serrated edges d6 of the seat, with a cross rod 17 connecting the rearmost pair of each set of bars 4-3, the scat being also con nected pivotallv to said bars by inclined braces" 48, to accommodate adjustment of the seat on the rods l7, (see Fig. 1). The adjustn'ieent of the seat is for the accommodation of persons of different height or for their comfort, the upper member can be caused to rotate to effect travel of the swings around the lower member, and said swings can be caused to swing or oscillate through the occupant of a seat alternately exerting foot pressure on the companion platformat, and relaxing such pressure, the operation being made easy when all of the More specific reference to the operation referred to will be found hereinafter.

For the purpose of imparting rotary movement to the upper or rotary member and swinging movement to the individual seats, of which four areshown, but of which there may be any number compatible with safety from conflict, or for regulating or arresting the operation of the upper member and individual seats or swings, foot platforms -l9 are pivoted at their front ends upon cross-'rodsoO connecting the foremost pairs of the sets of bars 43. The inner rear corner of each platform -19 is pivotally connected by a pitman link 51, ton lever 52, pivoted at its front end with respect to the direction of rotation, to a V-shaped frame 53 secured. to the adjacent bar 43, in any suitable manner. To stiffen and brace the platform 49 at its rear outer corner, a curved brace 54: eX- tends upwardly and inwardly from the said outer corner of the platform to the said link 51. as shown clearly in Fig. 1. The rear end of each lever 52' is pivotally connected to' the crank-arnr of a radially extendingshaft 56, journaled in a pair of hangers 57 and 58, depending respectively from the-upper or rotary member of which liars 22 and ring or band 23 constitute parts, the hangers 58 being disposed in the vertical plane of ring or band (3, and provided with rollers 59, which are adapted under the slightest tilting or springing action of the said rotary men'iber to engage the underlying circular track or band 6. The inner end of each shaft 56 is equipped with a bevel gear 60, engaging the circular rack 19', for the purpose of transmitting power from the oscillatory foot platform 49 y to the rotary member of the swing.

To shade the occupants of the swing from theisun at midday, the swing may be provided with a canopy or cover 61 which can be conveniently arrange-d upon" the inclined brace rods 38, as?v shown by Fig; 1-, which cation of pressure through the occupants feet upon the adjacent platform 49, will rock the same downward and hence through link 51 rock the connected lever 52 and impart rotation to the connected crank shaft 56, which shaft through the intermeshing of its gear 60 with the circular stationary rack-bar 19, will efi'ect rotation of the upper member or superstructure of the swing. As it is obvious that the lever 52 must have endwise movement in order to accommodate the rotation of the crank of said shaft, the associated swing bars 43 are caused to swing,

because the lever is fulcrumed at a point fixed with relation to said swing bars, that is to say, on the V-shaped frame which is carried by a pair of said swing bars.

As the foot pressure upon the platform 49 is relaxed the momentum acquired by the superstructure effects the reelevation of the foot platform through the lifting pressure applied by the crank of the shaft on lever 52, the next application of foot power on the platform 49 effecting a repetition of the operations described though with less exertion on the part of the operator because the speed of rotation of the superstructure will have become more rapid. It is obvious that the application of foot power by the occupants of other seats, will aid in the propulsion of the swing and render its operation easy. It will also be apparent that the foot platforms 4E9 enable the occupants to check the speed gradually or quickly if an emergency arises by applying pressure on the foot platforms as they rise after each depression.

It is to be understood that the machine can be efliciently operated regardless of the presence of the pivoted foot platforms 49 and links 51, as the application of pressure on the foot platforms 44: by the occupants of the seats will effect swinging movement of the swinging hanger bars 43, and said bars, through their frames 53 will move the levers 52 endwise. Assaid levers are pivotally connected at their free ends .to the crank shafts, endwise movement back and forth will impart rotary movement to the crank shafts and hence cause the upper and incidentally maintain substantially the same pressure upon the balls of the ball bearings. Thecentral rod of course cooperates with the ball bearing between the top of the stationary member and the super structure in maintaining said parts in concentric relation with respect to the axis of rotation.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced a circle swing possessing the features of advantage enumerated as desirable, and I wish it to be understood that while I have shown and described what now appears to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, I reserve the right to make all changes falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim: y

1. A swing comprising a lower or stationary member, an upper or rotary member mounted on the stationary member, series of hanger bars pivotally suspended from the upper member, foot platforms pivotally carried by the hanger bars of different series, a seat carried by each series of hanger bars and means whereby swinging movement of a series of the hanger bars shall impart rotary movement to said upper or rotary member.

2. A swing comprising a lower or stationary member, an upper or rotary member mounted on the stationary member. series of hanger bars pivotally suspended from the upper member, foot platforms pivotally carried by the hanger bars of different series, a seat carried by each series of hanger bars, a lever carried by each series of hanger bars and means whereby the operation of said lever shall impart rotation to said upper or rotary member.

3. A swing, comprising a stationary member having a circular track, a rotary member mounted on the stationary member and spaced above the said track, a plurality of hanger bars, swingingly suspended from the rotary member, a foot platform. pivotally carried by the hangerbars, a seat carried by the hanger bars, a lever carried by the hanger bars and having movement in a vertical plane, a crank shaft for operation by said lever and means for transmitting power from the crank shaft to the upper member to rotate same.

. 4. A. swing comprising a stationary member and a rotary member, one or more seats swung from the rotary member, a crank shaft geared to turn the rotary member, a lever movable bodily with each seat, and

also pivotally independently thereof and connected to the shaft to rotate the same, and foot-operated means for pivotally operating the lever.

5. A swing comprising a stationary member and a rotary member, swing bars sus- 

